Kubernetes is a powerful solution for deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications, highly valued for developers for its agility and ease-of-use. However, it’s a complex solution that takes time to learn.
In this blog post, Sundus Hussain, one of the Aviatrix Cloud Networking Heroes, shares some insights from her experience in mastering Kubernetes. Read more stories and advice from Cloud Networking Heroes here.
Learning the Ropes: Starting Small and Staying Calm
“When I first started learning Kubernetes, I found it hard to understand how everything worked together like pods, services, and deployments,” Sundus said. “Writing YAML files was confusing, and fixing problems wasn’t easy.”
Sundus began moving up the learning curve toward competency by breaking down tasks into manageable pieces and doing her homework. “I made progress by learning one thing at a time, completing hands-on labs, using Minikube, and reading official documentation with real-world examples,” she said.
“Whenever I got stuck, I stayed calm and asked for help in community forums and groups. This really boosted my confidence and helped me solve problems.”
Learning Kubernetes is not a simple, finite process – it requires iterative learning, reviews, and practice. “Kubernetes keeps changing with new features, so it’s important to keep learning,” Sundus said. “Otherwise, it gets hard to keep up.”
Best Practices for Other Learners
Sundus shared some advice for networking professionals who are learning Kubernetes for the first time. “If I were teaching a coworker, I would tell them to first learn the basics,” she explained. “Start with what a deployment is and how it works. Then look at the Kubernetes architecture to understand how everything fits together. Use tools like Minikube or Kind to try things out without spending money on the cloud.”
The next step is a matter of learning vocabulary, relationships, and processes. “Next, learn about the main parts: Pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, and Secrets. These are the most important things to know. Also, learn how to write YAML files to set up what you want,” Sundus said.
Along the way, build your knowledge of management tools as well. “From the beginning, try to add simple logging and monitoring using tools like Prometheus and Grafana,” Sundus counseled.
Using Kubernetes to Integrate Security into CI/CD Pipelines
One issue for Kubernetes networking is integrating security. The best deployments implement security-first design instead of attaching it afterwards as an afterthought. Sundus shared her perspective on how to integrate security into CI/CD pipelines.:
Use Secret Managers like AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault which will avoid hardcoding secrets
Scan code and Dockerfiles for vulnerabilities early in the pipeline
Restrict CI/CD tool permissions to only what's necessary. “One can enforce policies using different tools to block insecure configurations automatically.”
Curious about best practices and strategies for using Kubernetes?
Check out our decision guide for Kubernetes Security.
Explore our Enterprise Guide to Kubernetes.
Read Sundus’s blog on Kubernetes here.
